SHAVUOT SPECIAL
RABBI AZARYA BERZON Rav and Rosh Kollel, Kehillat Emek Learning Center, Jerusalem
How to Prepare for Chag HaShavuot
W
e are all familiar with the statement of Chazal דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה. Rav S. R. Hirsh in his time, and the Ba’alei Mussar in their time, built entire philosophies upon the concept of Derech Eretz in Jewish thought and ethics. But I believe a statement of Rebby Yitzhak in the Medrash (Vayikra Rabba 34) sheds a new light on this old concept and can prepare us for the great holiday of Kabalas HaTorah.
אמר ר’ יצחק למדתך תורה דרך ארץ שכשיהא אדם עושה מצוה יהא עושה אותה בלב שמח שאלו היה ראובן יודע שהקב”ה מכתיב עליו (בראשית היה טוענו ומוליכו אצל,לז) וישמע ראובן ויצילהו מידם אביו ) יד, (שמות ד:ואלו היה יודע אהרן שהקב”ה מכתיב עליו , בתופים ובמחולות היה יוצא לקראתו,”“וראך ושמח בלבו ,ואלו היה יודע בועז שהקב”ה מכתיב עליו ויצבט לה קלי עגלים פטומים היה מאכילה Rebbe Yitzhok claims that three of our ancestral giants should be taken to task for failing to perform a Mitzvah with a full heart. They are Reuven, Aaron, and Boaz. Reuven should have placed his brother 76
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Yosef on his shoulders and returned Yosef to father Jacob piggyback style. Aaron should have greeted his brother Moshe with a seven piece band. And Boaz should have served Ruth roast duck! One wonders why the Midrash would downgrade the great effort of Reuven to save Yosef, or the selfless happiness of Aaron when he greeted his brother Moshe, or the chessed of Boaz to sustain Ruth. Moreover, why the recurring phrase ואלו היה יודע, had he only known that his actions were being recorded in the Tanach? Does Jewish ethics place significance on the publicity of a good deed? Should one’s actions be motivated by the fanfare of the recording of one’s deeds in the Book of Books? To unlock the riddle of this presentation of Rebbe Yitzchok, we must raise a fundamental question. Which great deeds of our ancestral giants are recorded in the Holy Torah for all of posterity? No doubt, throughout the history of our people, myriads of great deeds of chessed and self-sacrifice have been performed. Which of these endless deeds are selected to be incorporated into Tanach? R’ Yitzchok postulates a breakthrough definition. Those great acts which during the course of Jewish history have facilitated the Geulah of our People are worthy of being recorded in Tanach.
